Diagnosed with PN
 

Hi to all, My name is Donna , 56 and just diagnosed with PN. I have been following this forum for several months now, reading it at least once a day and on really bad days twice a day. I have found it to be a wealth of information and just a place of comfort.
My PN journey started back in Feb 2009 when I ruptured my achilles tendon. About 6 months into recovery I started to notice tingling and burning in both feet and legs. Long story short , the symptoms got worse with the pain in my feet when I was walking ,ball of foot pain, numbness in both big toes, cramping in my toes (has since stopped) and at times severe itch in my toes (has stopped), and of course when I lay down at night the electrical shock like feeling in my feet extending up to my knees.
Over the past two years I have had physio therapy,acupuncture, massage, have seen two naturopathic doctors along with my general doctor. I live in Eastern Canada, although we do have "free" (paid by our high taxes ) health care, it often takes a long time to see specialist Doctors. Finally last month I saw a Neurologist who did confirm Peripheral Neuropathy. By this time I had already put my self on a regime of supplements suggested by Mrs D (feel like she is an old friend) I am taking Benfothiamine, R-Lipoic acid, Magnesium , B12, along with Lyrica and Tridural. This combination seems to have helped me get though the past year. Tonight I cannot sleep and am sitting at my pc with my feet on ice. This is where i come, for support on night like this .
For interest sake I checked back with my pharmacy to see if I ever had been prescribed Cipro and was amazed to find that I was on a 3 day course of it one week before I ruptured my achillies tendon.
I have had all by blood work done and not diabetic, or thyroid conditions. B12 level is fine. Was not a big drinker but did stop an alcohol consumption just in case.
Well this is turning in to a long introduction, so I should sign off for now, but wanted to say hi and thanks to all who post and share such important questions and answers for any one suffering with PN. :grouphug:

Good Morning !
 

Thank you for the for the "thanks". I forgot to mention in my note I wrote in the middle of the night..lol. I also had Bells Palsy the past December on the left side of my face, wast treated with cortisone and eventually did go away. Just wondering if there is any connection to my PN and my Bells. Both neurological. Although Diagnosed with PN, no one has been able to tell be why. I find this very frustrating and feel I am obsessed with finding out why. Dr's don't seem interested in the why.. just love give the prescriptions... Lack of sleep is not helping with my frustration.
Donna

Gee, I made a post to this thread and it is not here!

Must have lost it looking up the links.

Trying again...

Dr. Jay Cohen has had some experience with Cipro side effects, and he has some suggestions on his site.
One is Glutathione IV that a patient did. If you want to try and increase glutathione orally, NAC (n-acetyl cysteine) can help raise this. Start at 600mg a day, and perhaps increase as you see fit.

Here is his link:
http://medicationsense.com/articles/...pro_other.html

I don't think there is an answer yet to the tendon issue, as the mechanism of how it happens, is not well understood.
There are supplements for tendons...if you google that you'll find some suggestions. Many include magnesium and some form of silica (horsetail extract).

I would also find out your B12 exact numbers, and "fine" is often really low, and not "fine" according to our outdated lab ranges. You should have at least 400, and preferably above that.
Bell's is typically viral I believe. Some people get it from the nasal spray form of flu vaccine. It can also be autoimmune triggered.

diagnosed with pn
 

Did they rule out entrapment neuropathy of the tarsal tunnel resulting from the achilles injury. I know you have it in both feet, but sometimes the uninjured foot my may experience it because of compensatory pressure that is placed upon it.

Has anyone mentioned RSD to you? I ask because of the injury and then more pain. I have RSD and PN so you can have both. The issue is if you have RSD ice and some treatments will make things worse. I am not saying you have rsd but just a thought.
Are you on any meds or have you tried other pain relief treatment? Have you found any benefits in the supplement or pt?
Hope you feel better

The reason I suggested that you explore tarsal tunnel entrapment neuropathy is because the symptoms that you are reporting are very common in this type of neuropathy. The fact that the symptoms occurred 6 months after the achilles rupture raises this possibility. The tarsal tunnel is in the lower ankle and is similar to the carpal tunnel in the wrist. The injury may have cause changes in gate, increased pronation or other aberrations in walking that put undue pressure on the tarsal tunnel resulting in increased inflammation in the area. This inflammation can cause neuropathy. I would consult an orthepedic foot specialist. Sometimes something as simple as an custom-footed orthotic can relieve some of the discomfort

Entrapment
 

I did see a podiatrist at some point over the past two years, but no mention of entrapment. I think I will give him a call and have another chat with him. or possibly see another foot specialist.

Thanks for the suggestions, it really helps to have imput from so many people.
Donna:)